This is another article about the story behind the image. An image that I shot in a small village called Sassorosso in the mountains of Garfagnana, Tuscany.

About Sassorosso

The village of Sassorosso is tiny but beautiful. It has a population of about 55 people and sits on a rocky outcrop made up from a pinkish limestone called Rosso Ammonitico (red ammonite). All the buildings in the village have been constructed from this limestone, which makes the village extremely colourful. Adding to this natural colour is the fact that all the residents painstakingly decorate their homes with a stunning array of flowers in every vibrant colour you can imagine. You could easily walk around the entire village in less than 15 minutes were it not for the plethora of hanging baskets, old wine barrels, disused watering cans and plant pots stuffed to overflowing with flowers.

Any photographer can easily spend hours gently meandering up and down the steep and narrow streets. There is a photograph to be had every few steps. It was during one of these slow meandering days that I noticed something curious on most, if not every doorway.

Upside Down Horseshoes

Every time I saw a horseshoe hanging on a doorway in Sassorosso, I noticed that it was upside down. Well, it was upside down as far as I knew and had been taught.

I had always been told that if you were hanging a horseshoe over a doorway, or other entrance, it should always be hung like a letter U. The theory being that the good luck would not run out of the bottom. So, when I saw that every single horseshoe in Sassorosso was hung the opposite way from this, I got curious.

The Superstition

We all know that hanging a horseshoe above a doorway is supposed to bring good luck. The story goes back to a blacksmith by the name of Dunstan. One day, a man approached Dunstan and asked that he fit horseshoes to his feet. Dunstan immediately recognised the man as the Devil. Well, let’s be honest, who else would wear horseshoes on their feet? Anyway, Dunstan duly obliged and nailed a horseshoe to the Devil’s feet. This caused the Devil a great deal of pain and whilst the Devil was writhing in pain, Dunstan chained him to the wall. Dunstan told the Devil that he would not be released until he promised never to enter a house that had a horseshoe hanging over its doorway. The Devil agreed and the promise still stands to this day. Dunstan was later made the Archbishop of Canterbury and is now known as Saint Dunstan.

Nice wee story but how does that explain why some people are obviously hanging their horseshoes upside down? I mean, they can’t both be correct. Or can they?

Apparently, the way horseshoes are hung depends on the region of the world. In some places, they are hung like a letter U to prevent the good luck from running out. However, in other places (Sassorosso being one such place) it is this belief that the luck runs out that encourages people to hang the horseshoe “upside down”. It is believed that as you pass under the horseshoe, you will be showered by good luck and spread it around the house with you. You will also be showered as you leave the house, thereby taking the good luck on your travels.

Conclusion

Regardless of which version of the superstition you believe, if any, the fact still remains that Sassorosso is a beautiful village and well worth a visit if you are a keen photographer.

Yes, I will be visiting here in during my Tuscany Workshop in April.